Welcome back, you amazing people!

Thanks for joining me on the Science-God Channel. I'm excited to share with you another installment from a sermon series I wrote back in 2015.

Suffering Sermon

This is the third sermon in an eight-part series that reflects a pivotal period in my spiritual journey. This series was born shortly after my conversion to Christianity in 2015, a time when I was navigating through personal trials and transformations.

At that point, I was emerging from the turmoil of the Afghanistan war, grappling with homelessness, and feeling a profound sense of disorientation. Yet, amid these hardships, I encountered unexpected blessings, including the joy of getting married. This period was marked by a deep sense of gratitude for the gifts that seemed to come out of nowhere.

My understanding of God and Christianity was still in its formative stages, heavily influenced by the teachings of Dr. Wayne Dyer. Although my reflections were heartfelt and earnest, they carried a certain naivety, a testament to my early days of exploring this new faith.

In this sermon, you'll see my initial attempts to grasp and articulate the concept of divine suffering, reflecting my sincere and evolving efforts to understand and share the essence of what I was discovering about God and faith.

Sermon 3 of 8

I've come to realize and accept that people are simply going to be
exactly as they are, independent of my opinions about them.

Likewise, the world will be as it is,
regardless of my best efforts or aspirations to change it.

So, I've decided to let go and allow God to do His work within me.

I've stopped trying so hard and now trust Him more.

Looking back at my life and observing my present situation,
I see that God has provided everything I need according to His plan for me.

I now recognize that I lack nothing, and that realization is incredibly freeing.

I’m beginning to feel that I am, in fact, made perfect,
and that there is nothing wrong with me.

God has healed my wounds and renewed my mind.

I used to struggle with mental health issues, self-esteem problems,
and convoluted views of reality and the world around me.

My perception of reality was skewed.

I held major misconceptions about the world and its truths.

These distorted views were corrected when I read the entire Bible.

Indeed, the Word of God brings order to chaos.

Reading the Bible changed my perspective on many things.

While I was on the right track about some issues,
I was far off on others, particularly in terms of trust.

I found that I was focusing on the wrong things,
and my loyalties and trust were misplaced.

Spending time in His Word transformed all of that.

I realized that the abundance I desire
and need is already present in my life.

It is all here; I just needed to tune into it.

I shifted my focus from what I lacked to an appreciation
for all that I am and all the blessings I already have.

Opening my eyes, I saw the blessings God had already given me.

Reflecting on my life, I realized all He has done for me
throughout the years, often without my recognition.

I’m overwhelmed by His amazing grace.

Shame, guilt, grief, apathy, and fear have disappeared.

I now live in a constant state of gratitude,
continually thanking the Lord for every blessing He has graciously given me.

I remind myself to keep my mind on Christ and my thoughts on good things because what I focus on will expand.

If I concentrate on what I lack, that lack will grow.

Likewise, if I focus on what I don’t like in someone, those traits will expand.

That’s why pouring out endless love is always the best approach.

Love in response to hate diffuses the negativity,
and love in response to love multiplies it beyond measure.

1. Patient Endurance

Rejoice in your sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance.

As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., an American Baptist minister, activist, humanitarian, and civil rights leader, once said:

"Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable.
Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice,
suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions
and passionate concern of dedicated individuals."

Injustice, suffering, and unfairness are constants in life.

However, I’ve learned not to be emotionally immobilized by my troubles.

As the King James Bible, James 1:4 says:

"But let patience have her perfect work,
that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

Suffering is a fact of life for everyone.

It’s a necessary part of the salvation process, but the bright side is that the suffering of the faithful and righteous always glorifies God in the end.

God redeems the suffering of His faithful ones.

The essence of Christianity is to commune with the infinite Creator.

As stated in 1 John 2:3:

"And hereby we do know that we know him,
if we keep his commandments.

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments,
is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him."

This understanding should fill your heart with hope, ease your worries,
and bring you peace.

When I finally grasped the depth of God’s love for me, this biblical perspective on suffering made it not only bearable but welcomed,
if it be the will of the Lord.

In the realm of pure spirit, there is only endless love and grace.

The Father loves His children perfectly, according to their needs.

Our good Heavenly Father knows us better than we know ourselves.

All you need is to believe in Him.

Have faith, as it opens the door to His Holy Spirit.

There are no boundaries or limits here;
anything is possible with the love of Christ.

However, obeying His word and living like Christ is not always easy.

It takes a lifetime to learn to comply.

The path is narrow, and sadly, many will not enter it.

But have faith, for the faithful must endure
a trivial amount of suffering along the way.

Your momentary suffering is insignificant
compared to the immense glory that awaits you.

Yes, God’s magnificent glory and grace
are worth enduring any amount of suffering.

So, I encourage you to be gentle with yourself,
love one another as Christ taught us,
and appreciate the miracle of being alive and breathing in this moment.

Be patient and kind to everyone, regardless of your feelings,
and most of all, love God unconditionally, no matter what comes your way.

The Suffering Sermon -
The Righteous Will Suffer

I've come to realize and accept that people are simply going to be exactly as they are, independent of my opinions about them.

I held major misconceptions
about the world and its truths.
These distorted views were
corrected when I read the entire Bible.

Indeed, the Word of God
brings order to chaos.

I shifted my focus from what
I lacked to an appreciation
for all that I am and all the
blessings I already have.

Opening my eyes, I saw the
blessings God had already given me.

Reflecting on my life,
I realized all He has done for me
throughout the years,
often without my recognition.

Patient Endurance

Rejoice in your sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance.

As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., an American Baptist minister, activist, humanitarian, and civil rights leader, once said:

"Human progress is neither
automatic nor inevitable.
Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals."

As the King James Bible, James 1:4 says:

"But let patience have her perfect work,
that ye may be perfect and entire,
wanting nothing."

The essence of Christianity is
to commune with the infinite Creator.

As stated in 1 John 2:3:

"And hereby we do know that we know him,
if we keep his commandments.

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar,
and the truth is not in him.

But whoso keepeth his word,
in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him."

But have faith, for the faithful must endure
a trivial amount of suffering along the way.

Your momentary suffering is
insignificant compared to the
immense glory that awaits you.

Yes, God’s magnificent glory and grace
are worth enduring any amount of suffering.

So, I encourage you to be gentle with yourself,
love one another as Christ taught us, and appreciate the miracle of being alive and breathing in this moment.

Be patient and kind to everyone,
regardless of your feelings,
and most of all, love God unconditionally,
no matter what comes your way.

9/17/2024 0407

Suffering Sermon

1. Patient Endurance

The Suffering Sermon -The Righteous Will Suffer

Patient Endurance

The Suffering Sermon -
The Righteous Will Suffer